Place a check mark in front of every goal or problem you would like to work on. Then go back and decide on what to work on first.

Recommended readings in this book [Psychological Self-Help] are given in parentheses.
book index page

I. I want to change my overt behaviors or my thoughts, such as:

____  stop a bad habit--smoking, drinking, drugs, over-eating, swearing.
(Chapters 4, 11) and try to deal with underlying feelings

____  overcome behavior problems--lying, stealing, deceiving, laziness.
(Chapters 3, 4, 11, 12) and look for underlying feelings

____  study or work more, have more self-control and less procrastination.
(Chapters 3, 4 and 11)

____  be more caring, giving, affectionate. (Chapters 3, 4, 9, 11) and look
for interfering feelings

____  be more or less socially outgoing. (Chapters 4, 11, 13 and 14)

____  improve a friendship or an intimate or love relationship.
(Chapters 9, 10 and 11)

____  reduce excessive worries or obsessions or jealousies.
(Chapters 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12)

II. I want to change my conscious emotions, specifically:

____  afraid I'll hurt myself or someone else or have a nervous breakdown
(go get professional help right away).

____  anxious, fearful, tense, shy, up tight, poor sleep.
(Chapters 5, 12 , 13 and 14)

____  overwhelmed, confused, bewildered, lost. (Chapters 3, 5, 9 and 12,
and this may be a problem that needs professional help)

____  depression, loneliness, sadness, guilt, feeling a failure. (Chapters 6,
12 and 14)

____  resentment, anger, distrust, feeling betrayed, wanting to hurt
someone. (Chapters 7, 9, 10, 12 and 14)

____  unexplained changes in mood, mood swings of highs and lows.
(Chapters 6 and 12)

____  physical complaints, aches and pains, tiredness, poor appetite.
(Chapters 5, 6 and 12)

____  don't give a damn, apathy, feeling that nothing matters.
(Chapters 3, 4, 11 and 14)

____  overly eager to please, an unquestioning and obedient follower.
(Chapters 8, 13 and 14)

III. I want to gain certain skills so I can handle problems better:

____  be a good listener, empathic, able to disclose my true self.
(Chapters 9 and 13)

____  stand up for my rights, refuse to be taken advantage of.
(Chapters 8, 13 and 14)

____  make good decisions, avoid impulsive or uninformed choices.
(Chapters 4, 11, 13 and 14)

____  how to meet people, social and dating skills.
(Chapters 9, 13 and 14)

____  study or test-taking skills, how to concentrate better. (Chapter 13)

____  time management, scheduling, reducing procrastination. (Chapters 3,
4, 11 and 13) and work on underlying needs

____  leadership and persuasion skills. (Chapter 13)

____  parenting skills and relating to children better.
(Chapters 4, 9 and 11)

____  handling money, budgeting, controlling impulsive buying. (Chapters
4, 11 and 13) and figure out underlying emotions

____  choosing a career, planning out my life, making educational plans.
(Chapter 3 and 13)

____  learn how to deal with sexual problems. (Chapter 10)

IV. I want to change the way I think, more specifically:

____  become more hopeful or optimistic, less negative view of the world.
(Chapters 6 and 14)

____  be more tolerant of others or myself, more accepting of what is.
(Chapters 7, 9 and 14)

____  be more willing to try something different, more brave, adventurous.
(Chapters 4, 8, 11, 13 and 14)

____  reduce my own attitudes or expectations or views that upset me.
(Chapters 6, 9 and 14)

____  learn to think straight and logically, stop deceiving myself.
(Chapter 14)

____  learn positive mental attitudes, self-suggestions, self-hypnosis.
(Chapter 14)

____  take more responsibility for my problems, their solution & my life.
(Chapters 3, 8 and 14)

____  develop a philosophy of life and learn how to live by it.
(Chapters 3, 4, 11 and 14)

____  increase my motivation, overcome my reluctance to change & work
hard. (Chapters 3, 4, 11 and 14)

V. I want to understand what makes me tick, why I do the things I do, the unconscious motives and dynamics within me:

____  uncover and understand the past experiences that still bother me.
(Chapters 9, 14 and 15)

____  become more aware of my self-deceptions and defense
mechanisms. (Chapters 5, 9, 14 and 15)

____  recognize the "games" being played by me and by others.
(Chapters 9 and 15)

____  get in touch with the conflicts and repressed feelings inside me.
(Chapters 9, 12 and 15)

____  remember and understand my dreams or daydreams. (Chapter 15)

____  realize the continuing impact of my family life & early experiences.
(Chapters 9, 14 and 15)

____  understand my needs--dependency, aggressive, sexual, etc.
(Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10 and 15)